Upcoming Homesteader Events

• Homesteader Series: Basics of Canning & Preserving Food - July 19
• Louisiana Homesteader Conference - October 17-18

A Message from the Northwest Region Director

Dr. Ronald Strahan

In response to the increasing interest in homesteading and self-sufficient food production, the LSU AgCenter is pleased to announce the launch of its new research-based Homesteader Newsletter. This publication aims to support those passionate about growing and preserving their own food, whether they are backyard gardeners or managing several acres.

The Homesteader Newsletter will include a range of articles covering all facets of homesteading. Readers can expect expert insights on gardening, fruit and nut production, food preservation, and nutrition, along with practical tips to enhance the homesteading experience.

The rise in homesteading interest post-pandemic has underscored the significance of personal food production. The LSU AgCenter is committed to providing valuable knowledge and practical solutions to help you succeed on your homestead. Whether you are a beginner or looking to expand your current practices, this newsletter will serve as an essential resource.

Stay tuned for informative articles, research findings, and advice that will empower you to develop a sustainable and productive homestead. The LSU AgCenter Homesteader Newsletter is here to support your journey toward self-sufficiency and sustainable living.

Honeybee Swarm Removals

Joshua Salley
Desoto Parish Extension Agent

During late spring and early summer, you may notice swarms of honeybees around your property. This is because bees are looking to establish new colonies, and they just might find your home or surroundings to be the perfect location. At first, many homeowners may turn to spraying the bees with insecticides, but this is not the best method of dealing with them. Instead of trying to eliminate the bees, homeowners should reach out to beekeepers or other swarm removal experts and have the bees humanely removed. This allows the bees to be transported to another location where they may be managed and put to good use with their free pollination services and their honey production. The LSU AgCenter maintains an active swarm removal contact list with contacts all over the state.

For a list of contacts for swarm removal:

Contact the DeSoto Parish Extension Office at 318-872-0533 or follow this link Honeybee Removal and Swarm Collection.

Blackberries: A Bountiful, Low-Maintenance Crop for Louisiana Homesteads

Mark Wilson
Area Horticulture Agent

If you’re looking to add a productive, low-fuss fruit to your homestead garden, blackberries are a fantastic choice -especially here in Louisiana. These hardy native plants are well-adapted to our climate, thriving in full sun and well-drained soil with minimal inputs. Once established, blackberry bushes require little more than pruning, watering, and the occasional pest check to keep them thriving.

One of the biggest perks for homesteaders is that blackberries are a lower-input fruit crop compared to many others. They don’t demand heavy fertilizing or complex care routines, making them ideal for busy folks who still want a rewarding harvest. Plus, they’re perennials -plant them once, and with just a little maintenance, you’ll enjoy years of fresh berries. Blackberries ripen in late spring and early summer, just in time to beat the worst of the heat. Some newer varieties, like the primocane types (think Prime-Ark® Freedom or Prime-Ark® Traveler), can even produce a second crop into the fall—giving you a longer season to enjoy or preserve your harvest.

Beyond being delicious, blackberries pack a healthy punch. They’re loaded with vitamin C, fiber, and antioxidants. Whether you’re eating them fresh off the cane, whipping up jam, or freezing them for later, they’re a valuable addition to any homestead pantry. So, if you’re ready to add a dependable, tasty crop to your garden that gives more than it takes, blackberries are a sweet place to start.

Preserve the Protein: A Simple Guide to Dehydrating Meat

Jessica Salley- Sabine Parish
Nutrition and Community Health Agent

Looking for a way to store meat without filling up the freezer? Dehydrating meat —especially as jerky is a time-tested method to preserve protein, save money, and create a high-energy snack that’s perfect for the trail, lunchbox, or emergency shelf.

Why Dehydrate Meat?

• Dehydrating removes moisture from meat, stopping bacteria and mold from growing. With the right prep and storage.
• Jerky can last for months—and it’s packed with flavor and nutrition.
• It’s a favorite among campers, hunters, and families looking to stretch their food budget without sacrificing taste.

Safe Handling Tips

Before you slice, marinate, or dry, follow these guidelines to reduce the risk of food borne illness:

• Wash hands with warm soapy water for 20 seconds before and after handling raw meat.
• Use lean cuts of meat. Trim visible fat to avoid spoilage.
• Keep meat cold (40°F or lower) until ready to prep.
• Thaw frozen meat in the refrigerator, never on the counter.
• Marinate in the refrigerator and discard used marinade.

Recipe: Homemade Beef Jerky

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 -2 pounds of lean meat (beef, pork or venison)
• 1/4 cup soy sauce
• 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1/4 teaspoon each of black pepper and garlic powder
• 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
• 1 teaspoon hickory smoke-flavored salt

Instructions

1. Trim all visible fat from meat (fat can spoil). Slice thinly against the grain (about ¼ inch thick).
2. Mix marinade ingredients in a bowl. Add meat, cover, and refrigerate for at least 6 hours (or overnight).
3. Drain and pat dry with paper towels.
4. Dehydrator: Place the racks in a dehydrator or oven preheated to 140ºF. Dry until a test piece cracks but does not break when it is bent (10 to 24 hours for samples not heated in marinade).
5. Begin checking samples after 3 hours. Once drying is completed, pat off any beads of oil with clean, absorbent towels and cool.
6. Let cool completely. Store in airtight containers or vacuum-sealed bags.

Getting Chicks Off to a Good Start

William Strickland
Hill Farm Research Station Regional Poultry Agent

Spring is here, and all the flowers blooming, pop up showers, pollen blowing, there is another common sign this time of the year. The soft chirps of chicks at your local tractor supply or feed stores. Spring is often the time that many folks will buy chicks or hatch out their own chicks to repopulate their flock or start one for the first time. However, we want to make sure we create an environment for our chick’s success.

One of the most important factors for getting chicks off to a good start is correct temperatures. Chicks are poikilothermic…that is they cannot control their internal body temperatures. It is why we watch chicks huddle under their mothers when they are young. Typically, we want a temperature of 95 degrees and lower it by 5 degrees a week until the end of 5 weeks at a temperature of 70 degrees. This can be done simply by hanging a standard heat lamp 1-1.5 feet above the brooding pen and raising a few inches each week.

Another factor of these brooding areas is they need to have a solid side to them 1-2 feet tall. This stops drafts from chilling chicks in the pen. A ring of about 6 feet in diameter is usually sufficient to have enough space to allow chicks to get away from the heat lamp if it is too hot and will house about 50 chicks. The best way to manage the height of the heat lamp is to watch the birds and their spacing. If they are huddled under the lamp they are too cold and lower the lamp, if they are spread around the outside of the pen they are too hot, we want them to be equally spaced throughout the pen. Chicks are social creatures and will group together but if they are all huddled under the lamp they are probably too cold.

Another factor to consider for starting your chicks off right is their feed and water. These should be placed between the heat lamp and the side of the brooder, not directly under the lamp. Also make sure the feeder pan and water pan (if using an open drinker) is shallow enough for chicks to easily eat and drink out of. They will inevitably get into the feed and water pans so make sure to keep these areas clean and provide fresh water regularly. The height can be raised to keep birds out of them as the birds grow. Also, chicks can usually not eat the whole pellet in many bagged feeds. Make sure to feed them a crumble until they are big enough to handle pellets. Usually, all chick starter feed at your local feed store will be a crumble and adequately formulated for complete nutrition for your growing birds.

Tips From The Farm

Bill Waltman
Farm Manager
Red River Research Station

As we roll into spring and nature awakens, many of us begin to think about planting vegetables. If you're interested in starting a spring garden but have limited space or are hesitant to invest in expensive lumber for raised beds, consider using wood pallets. They are often readily available and can be transformed into effective planter boxes for your vegetables.

To start, obtain some wood pallets and find a suitable location. Lay down a piece of cardboard, cut to the size of the pallets, on the ground beneath them. Position the pallets on top of the cardboard and fill the gaps between the boards with compost or your preferred garden soil. Once planted, you'll soon see the results of your efforts.

Cardboard serves two key purposes: it prevents weeds from growing among your plants and retains moisture, reducing the frequency of watering needed.

Happy gardening!

Nana's Corner

Donna Haynes
Northwest Region Administrative Coordinator

Children Are Our Future: Teach Self-Sufficiency Through Homesteading

Children truly are our future, and how we guide them today will shape the world they inherit tomorrow. In a time when so many aspects of daily life are digital, fast-paced, and disconnected from nature, teaching children self-sufficiency is one of the greatest gifts we can offer. And what better way to do that than through homesteading?

Homesteading isn’t just for adults—it’s for all ages. Even the youngest children can take part in small but meaningful tasks that build confidence, character, and a deep respect for the earth and its creatures. When we involve children in the rhythms of daily life on a homestead, we give them more than just chores —we give them purpose.

Start young with Simple Lessons

It begins with the basics. Little hands can help plant seeds, water the garden, or collect eggs from the coop. These small actions teach responsibility and patience as they witness the fruits of their labor grow—literally. Watching a tomato ripen on the vine or a baby chick turn into a full-grown hen is more than just a learning opportunity—it’s a chance to connect with life in its purest form.

Raising a Love for Animals and the Land

Children naturally gravitate toward animals. Caring for goats, chickens, rabbits, or even a family dog teaches compassion, empathy, and the importance of daily responsibility. When kids see that their actions —feeding, cleaning, or simply spending time—impact the well-being of another living being, it nurtures a sense of stewardship that stays with them forever.

From Garden to Table

There’s something magical about helping prepare a meal made from food you’ve helped grow. Whether it's snapping green beans, kneading bread, or stirring a pot with mom or dad, children learn not only about food preparation but about togetherness. These shared moments in the kitchen create lasting memories and real-world skills that will serve them long into adulthood.

Lifelong Lessons in Self-Reliance

Homesteading teaches children that they have the power to provide for themselves, to work with nature rather than against it, and to find joy in the simple things. These lessons aren’t just practical—they’re foundational. They build resilience, creativity, and an unshakable belief in their ability to face life’s challenges. So let’s teach our children how to grow their own food, care for animals, and work together as a family. Let’s plant the seeds of independence and watch them grow into strong, capable adults. After all, our children are the future—and there’s no better way to prepare them for it than by grounding them in the values and skills of homesteading.

Upcoming 2025 Events

Contributors

• Northwest Region Director-Dr. Ronald Strahan 318-741-7430

• Assistant ANR Agent Joshua Salley 318-872-0533

• Associate ANR Agent/Area Horticulture Agent Mark Wilson 318-408-0984

• Assistant NCH Agent Jessica Salley 318-256-3406

• Assistant Agent-Poultry Will Strickland 318-927-2578

• Farm Manager/Research Associate Coordinator Bill Waltman 318-286-9324

• Northwest Region Administrative Coordinator Donna Haynes 318-408-0971

About Us

The LSU Agricultural Research and Cooperative Extension Service is a vital institution that serves our state and country. As part of our educational mission, we organize various programs, including field days, workshops, and hands-on demonstrations. designed to provide attendees with valuable knowledge about homesteading, food production in small backyard acreages, and food preservation. Our goal is to empower participants to effectively care for their land, livestock, and natural resources.